OTD was borne of some local Carolina eat and greet chatter that grew to a regional event. Only through the tenacity of Gary and Rita, 2009 was the high water mark for attendance as smart was new to the U.S. and they made OTD I a reality!
It was a rainy (we surfed The Dragon
) Fall day and the Microtel Inn parking lot was ground zero for 100ish wild and crazy owners from all over the U.S. and Canada. The event was all about smart, early mods and
great people.
Six years later the smart group like the Mini owner event (Minis On The Dragon began in 2006) have settled on Fontana as headquarters driven primarily by location and the diversity of lodging options that are available. Obviously the event organizers who spend hours planning, preparing and transporting "the event" up the hill are doing it out of love for the smart community, not for personal gain
and we Thank You!
At the end of the day there are indeed other lodging options but Fontana remains one of the best all around for both facilities and location.
As you can see from this LONG list of various lodging options,
The Dragon does not have it's own freeway off-ramp as it
is in a very rural area of NC/TN. :wink:
Cue banjo music . . .
Fontana Village: This is where most of the OTD events are held, including dinners, registration and vendors. They have lodge rooms, cabins, houseboats and campgrounds.
Phone: 800-849-2258
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 15 min
Microtel Inn of Robbinsville: Located in Robbinsville. 50 rooms available. Singles, doubles, suites, and jacuzzi suites available.
Phone: 888-771-7171
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 24 min.
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 20 min
Tapoco Lodge: An Historic Lodge from the 1930's sitting on 120 acres. Just finished a complete renovation and reopened in 2011. Breakfast and dinner is included with your stay.
Phone: 828-498-2325
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 15 minutes
Drive to Dragon: Appox. 5 minutes
Blue Waters Mountain Lodge: This cozy inn sits right on Lake Santeetlah. It has 9 rustic rooms and 1 cottage. A gourmet breakfast is included. Dinners are available Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Phone: 888-828-3978
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 38 min.
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 23 min
Snowbird Mountain Lodge: Cottage has two private rooms and the Chestnut Lodge has 6 rooms. Each stay includes 3 meals per day.
Phone: 800-941-9290
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 60 min.
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 45 min
The Phillips Motel: Located in Robbinsville. They offer 16 motel rooms, 7 efficiencies, 1 apartment and several cottages. All at reasonable rates.
Phone:828-479-3370
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 40 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 30 min.
Tuskeegee Motel: Located on Highway 29 in Robbinsville. Owned and operated since 1967 by Ben and Barbara Crisp.
Phone:828-479-8464
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 15 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 30 min.
Appalachian Inn: This rustic B & B overlooks Stecoah Valley and offers 4 rooms. Includes a home cooked full country breakfast.
Phone:828-479-8450
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 30 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 45 min.
The Dragon Pitt Inn and BBQ: Just a few miles past the north end of Dragon
Phone:865-253-3566
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 58 min.
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 10 min
San-Ran Motel: Located in Robbinsville. They offer 11 motel rooms. Each with a microwave, refrigerator, coffee pot and 150 channel TV.
Phone:828-479-3256
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 60 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 45 min.
Freeman Motel and Cottages: Located in Almond NC. Open year round. Offers motel rooms and eight cabins.
Phone:828-488-2737
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 40 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 55 min.
The Overnighter: Very reasonably priced two bedroom apartments with kitchenettes.
Phone:828-479-6485
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 45 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 35 min.
Deal Gap Motorcycle Resort: They offer a motel and camping facilities, plus a restaurant and store. Located right at the start of the Dragon. Everything the Dragon Slayer needs for a great stay.
Phone:800-889-5550
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 15 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 0 min.
Buffalo Creek Bed and Breakfast: Two rooms with private entrances and a separate cabin are available.
Phone:828-479-3892
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 58 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 50min
Nantahala Village: The picturesque main lodge has 11 rooms on the second floor. They also have cottages, cabins, condos and mountain vacation homes.
Phone:800-438-1507
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 30 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 45 min.
Fryemont Inn: Located in Bryson City. They have 37 cozy bedrooms in the main lodge and cottage suites located in the adjacent building. Each suite has a king size bed, wet bar and working fireplace.
Phone:800-845-4879
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 50 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 65 min.
A Holiday Motel: Several room types to choose from. Free WiFi and restaurant on site. Located in the heart of Maggie Valley
Phone:877-686-4386
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 50 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 65 min.
Sweet Berries Bed and Breakfast: 4 rooms available with either a king or queen bed and a private bathroom
Phone: 865-856-6762
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 50 min.
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 24 min. (north end of the dragon)
Hawkesdene House B & B Inn and Cottages: Just outside Andrews, NC., this B & B has 5 rooms and cottages and sits on 20 acres.
Phone:800-438-1507
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 78 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 75 min.
The Hemlock Inn: Rustic country Bed and Breakfast Inn with 22 rooms and three cabin rentals.
Phone:828-488-2885
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 50 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 65 min.
Richmont Inn B & B: Located in Townsend, TN. Has 6 rooms and one cabin. Get to drive the Foothills Parkway and the Dragon on your way to Fontana Village
Phone:866-267-7086
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 88 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 67 min.
GearHead Inn: We offer large, non-smoking rooms with a king or 2 double beds, pool, wireless Internet, cable TV, microwave, refrigerator, and coffee maker.
Phone:828-488-2398
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 50 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 65 min.
The Blue Boar Retreat: Just off of Lake Santeetlah. The inn has eight rooms that have breakfast included. Three private two bedroom, two bath cottages. Entire Property must be rented at once. No individual bookings. Open from March 31 to November 26.
Phone: 828-479-8126
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 58 min.
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 43 min
Comfort Inn: Located in Townsend, TN. King or 2 Queen rooms. Two person Jacuzzi and fireplace rooms available. Get to drive the Foothills Parkway and the Dragon on you way to Fontana Village.
Phone:800-348-7090
Drive to Fontana: Approx. 97 min
Drive to Dragon: Approx. 88 min.